Michiana County Farmers Among Top Ag Producers
Published: Friday, May 10, 2024
Many Michiana counties are among the top agricultural producers in their respective states. Highlighted in the final week of the county agricultural breakdowns are some of the top producers: Allegan, Cass (Mich.), Kosciusko, Lake, Miami, Porter and St. Joseph (Ind.).
Allegan
Allegan County ranks second in Michigan for the total market value of agricultural product sales. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, the county raked in $727.7 million in agricultural sales. That's up 25% over the 2017 ag census.
Leading the way were livestock and poultry sales, totaling $522.6 million. That ranks first in the state. Poultry and egg sales generated $217 million, which also ranks first. Receipts from hog and pig sales amounted to $106.2 million, placing second. Other livestock sales were milk from cows, $163.9 million, fifth place; and cattle and calves, $29.1 million, ninth place. Figures were unavailable for sheep and goats, horses and equine animals, and aquaculture. "Other" animal products sales were $5.1 million, second place.
Net cash farm income in 2022 stood at $175.8 million, up 68% over 2017. Farm expenses were up 15%, at $565 million.
Seventy-two percent of ag sales came from livestock and poultry. Twenty-eight percent of receipts were from crop sales.
Crop sales generated $205 million in 2022, which ranks 13th in the state. Leading crops were grains and oilseeds, $97.9 million; nursery, greenhouse and floriculture products, $48.6 million; vegetables, melons and potatoes, $27.3 million; and fruits, tree nuts and berries, $26.2 million. Those crop categories ranked seventh, ninth and sixth, respectively.
In terms of acres, corn and soybeans lead the way with 59,232 and 42,961 acres, respectively. Hay and forage acres total 22,077, while corn for silage consumed 12,733 acres. Vegetable acres totaled 6,438 acres.
Layers (6.9 million) and pullets (1.6 million) were the leading livestock species in the county as of Dec. 31, 2022. The inventory also showed 325,031 turkeys, 221,437 hogs and pigs, and 50,868 cattle and calves. The inventory of meat-type chickens wasn't disclosed.
Allegan County had 1,120 farms in 2022, down 4% compared to 2017. Average farm size was 187 acres, down 5%.
Land in farms was 209,410 acres, down 9%. Cropland consisted of 168,011 acres; woodland and pastureland, combined, were approximately 24,000 acres. A total of 20,293 acres were under irrigation. Regarding land use practices, 22% of farms used intensive-till, while 18% used reduced-till. The percentage of farms using no-till was 15%. Thirteen percent of farms planted cover crops.
Eighty-two percent of farms were 179 acres or less. Five percent of farms were 1,000 acres or more. Of the 2,002 producers in the county, 1,311 were male and 691 were female. Over half of the farmers (1,225) were between the ages of 35 and 64, while 586 were 65 and older.
Cass (Mich.)
The 2022 Census of Agriculture records Cass County (Mich.) as the No. 2 county in sheep and goat production, and No. 3 for hogs and pigs. The county ranks ninth in Michigan for vegetable production.
Cass County sold $1.29 million-worth of sheep, goats, wool, mohair and milk products in 2022. Farmers made $66.18 million in hog and pig sales. The county is home to 111,859 hogs and pigs, 2,457 sheep and lambs, and 395 goats.
Animal agriculture accounted for $75.58 million of the $223.19 million in market value. The majority of the market value ($106.51 million) is won by grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas in crops. Far behind this number are vegetables at $24.16 million, and fruits, nuts and berries at $13.06 million. Altogether, crops accounted for $147.6 million in sales.
More farms utilize reduced- or no-till farming methods than intensive tillage in Cass County. Twenty-nine percent of farms no-till, 21% reduce-till and just 15% intensively till the ground. Another 10% plant cover crops.
Number of farms and land in farms are both down since 2017. At 651, number of farms dropped 13%. Acres slid back 3%, landing at 193,125 acres. The average farm size grew 12% to 297 acres.
Top crops in acres are: corn, 65,349 acres; soybeans, 48,485 acres; forage, 7,389 acres; vegetables, 7,227 acres; and snap beans, 3,245 acres.
There are 1,182 producers in the county, of which 779 are men and 403 are women. A total of 417 farmers are new or beginning. There are 141 farmers under the age of 35, 586 farmers between 35-64, and 455 farmers 65 and older.
Kosciusko
Kosciusko County is the top producer of hay and other crops out of all 92 counties in Indiana, according to the 2022 Ag Census of Agriculture. The farmers are also ranked eighth in the state for all agricultural products, placing in the top six in crops, grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas; and in horse, pony, mule, burrow and donkey sales. The county's cattle and calf production, milk from cows, and overall livestock and poultry production ranked seventh and 10th out of 73 and 10th overall, respectively.
"Kosciusko County processes a wide collection of agriculture, ranging from traditional crops like corn and soybeans to specialty crops and livestock farming. The multifaceted landscape highlights the county's role in shaping the agricultural sector, making it an inspiration of innovation and productivity for the state," Kosciusko County Extension educator Emily Kresca said.
The county produced an overall market value of $428.9 million in agricultural products. About half ($237.24 million) is from crops. At 10th in the state, livestock and poultry products raked in $191.65 million. Grains, oilseeds, dry beans and peas made up the vast majority of crop profit, accounting for $229.04 million. Next highest is hay and other crops, bringing in significantly less despite the county's top rank in the category. Sales equal $4.88 million.
Poultry and eggs brought in $79.47 million of the total for all livestock and poultry products. Cattle and calves, ranked seventh in the state, made $$21.52 million, and equine sales topped out at $1.4 million. All livestock and poultry products ranked within the top 20 statewide.
Top crops in acres include: corn for grain (112,181), soybeans (104,359), popcorn (11,484), forage (11,414) and wheat (4,506).
Since the 2017 ag census, Kosciusko County has seen an upward trend in average farm size, farmland and farmers, with 10%, 14% and 4% increases, respectively.
"These trends suggest a consolidation and optimization of agricultural operations within the county, potentially driven by factors such as technological advancements, changes in land use practices, and economic considerations. Such shifts highlight Kosciusko County's dynamic agricultural sector, adapting to evolving demands and opportunities while maintaining its vital role in the regional and national food supply chain," Kresca said.
Number of farms increased to 277, farmland expanded to 289,904 acres and the number of producers rose to 1,079.
Notably, Kosciusko County is Indiana's fifth largest agricultural county in farmland acres. Out of the total acres in farmland, 261,880 are in cropland. Pastureland takes up 5,704 acres and woodland spans 17,339 acres. Fourteen percent of the land in farms is irrigated.
Reduced-till is king in Kosciusko County, with 21% of farms incorporating this practice. No-till is competing for the crown, though, with 20% of farms determined not to plow their fields. Intensive tillage is used on 13% of farms, and cover crops are planted on 10% of farms.
The biggest challenge Kresca sees in Kosciusko County agriculture is the competition for land availability.
"The county struggles with the constant pressure of urbanization and commercial development, tempting landowners to sell their agricultural plots for non-agricultural purposes," she said.
She encourages farmers to focus on innovation, collaboration and sustainability to increase financial security and combat temptations to sell.
Lake
Crops account for 97% of Lake County agriculture sales, while livestock and poultry make up just 3%, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
The county's 347 farms produced $99.9 million in ag sales in 2022. That's up 53% over the 2017 ag census. Net cash farm income was $31 million, up 129%.
The number of farms was down 10% compared to 2017. Average farm size was 356 acres, up 22%.
Most (85%) of Lake County's farms are less than 500 acres, with the single biggest category being 10 to 49 acres (137 or 39%).
Land in farms totals 123,589 acres, with cropland consuming 111,576 acres and pastureland covering 2,372 acres. Woodland acres are 2,678.
Crop sales generated $97,283 in 2022. Leading crops include grains and oilseeds; nursery, greenhouse and floriculture; vegetables, melons and potatoes; fruit, tree nuts and berries; and other crops. The county ranks 10th in the state in sales of nursery and greenhouse products.
In terms of acres, corn and soybeans were the major crops. Corn acres totaled 52,554 and soybean acres totaled 42,535. Other crop acres were: forage and hay, 2,633; corn for silage, 1,746; and wheat, 696. The livestock inventory included 1,452 layers; 1,230 cattle and calves; 996 sheep and lambs; 381 horses and ponies; 173 goats; 163 hogs and pigs; 102 pullets; and 39 turkeys.
In terms of sales, livestock and poultry products generated $2.6 million in 2022. The leading producers were milk from cows, $925,000, and "other" animals and products, $800,000.
The county has 668 farmers, of which almost two-thirds (416) are male and the other third (252) are female. Most farmers (333) are between the ages of 35 and 64, with another large number (287) age 65 and older.
As for land use practices, 28% of farms use no-till and 25% use reduced-till. Fourteen percent of farms use intensive-till. Cover crops are grown on 14% of Lake County farms.
Miami
Miami County is home to 1,011 agricultural producers on 613 farms. Of those farms, 40% utilize no-till and 10% plant cover crops. Reduced-till and intensive-till practices are pretty evenly matched, at 20% and 23%, respectively.
Popcorn is the fifth largest crop in the county in acres, with the product planted on 1,754 acres, as is recorded in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Soybeans are No. 1 with 81,997 of the 201,899 total acres in farming. Corn for grain is planted on 78,507 acres. In third and fourth, respectively, are forage and wheat.
Number of farms fell by 3% since 2017, but both land in farms and average farm size increased, by 4% and 7%, respectively. Average farm size is now 329 acres.
The market value for agricultural products sold in 2022 was $269.14 million. Crops accounted for $174.31 million (65%) and poultry and livestock account for $94.83 million (35%). The most valuable products between 2017-22 were (in order): grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas ($164.82 million); hogs and pigs ($79.43 million); milk from cows ($10.19 million); and cattle and calves ($4.76 million).
The county ranked 23rd overall in the state for agricultural sales. Miami County was eighth in the state in both aquaculture and vegetables, melons and potatoes; and seventh in hogs and pigs. The livestock inventory records 228,750 hogs and pigs in the county.
"Miami County has been seeing an increase in livestock production, especially hogs. The county benefits from having most parts of the pork industry supply chain within its borders and neighboring counties," said Extension educator Courtney Schmidt. "From 2012 NASS data, Miami County had 110,251 hogs and ranked 10th in the state. Then to the latest data from the 2022 Census of Ag, there were 228,750 head increasing our state rank to seventh. We've seen a slight decrease in the number of farms in Miami County, however, the average size of farms has increased by 21 acres."
Number of women versus men farming in Miami County is a 290-to-721 ratio. A hundred of the farmers are below the age of 35, while 483 of the farmers are between 35-64 and 428 farmers are 65 years old or older. There are 239 new and beginning producers.
One challenge Schmidt identifies for these farmers is the competition in the county with outside resources. She said the recent growth offers "an opportunity for Miami County ag producers to meet that demand and keep those dollars in our local economy."
Porter
Livestock take up just 2% of agriculture in Porter County, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
The market value of products sold has increased 32% to $101.95 million, with the majority ($87.28 million) of that income being won by grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas. Vegetables take up another large chunk, bringing in $10.42 million for the county. Porter County ranks fifth in the state for vegetable production.
The top crops in acres are: corn (46,226 acres), soybeans (43,958), forage (3,172), vegetables (1,471) and tomatoes in the open (1,403).
According to Nikky Witkowski, Porter County Extension educator, "Challenges farmers are facing include incoming technologies like windmills and solar panels as well as people moving into the area for country life."
While number of farms rose 4% to 462, the average farm size decreased 4% to 265 acres. The amount of land in farms remains steady at 122,238 acres.
Witkowski noted that fewer small farms were liquidating or merging with larger farms.
There are 788 producers in the county; 528 of them are men and 260 of them are women. The majority (490) are between the ages 35-64. A total of 258 are classified as new or beginning farmers.
Forty-one percent of farms are on 10-49 acres of land. There are 92 (20%) farms utilizing 50-179 acres. In the largest size (1,000 acres or more) are 7% of farms.
Reduced tillage is used on 26% of farms. Intensive tillage is utilized by 22% of farms and no-till has been adopted by 21%. Cover crops are planted on 7% of farms in Porter County. Cropland takes up most of the land in farms, spanning 105,600 acres. Woodlands take up 4,732 acres and 1,335 acres are reserved for pastures.
St. Joseph
The 2022 Indiana Census of Agriculture ranks St. Joseph County (Ind.) as sixth in the state for aquaculture. The amount raised by sales was withheld to avoid disclosing date for individual operations.
The county also ranked in the state's top 10 for nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod (fourth); fruits, nuts and berries (sixth); and other crops and hay (fifth).
"When people think of farming in Indiana, they think of corn and soybeans. St. Joseph County is unique in that there are also mint, seed corn, and sod operations, all three of which are uncommon. Additionally, our county has made huge strides in the urban grower population. Organizations like Unity Gardens have supported a culture of community gardens in the county. With over 40 community gardens, urban interest in farming is increasing exponentially," said Emily Evers, county Extension educator.
Crops make up 80% ($130.13 million) of agricultural sales in the county. The total market value of St. Joseph agriculture is $162.24 million. Animal agriculture is responsible for 20% ($32.1 million) of the total products sold.
Top crops in sales are: grains, oilseeds, beans and peas ($117.61 million); nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod ($6.05 million); and other crops and hay ($3.82 million). Top livestock include: hogs and pigs ($19.3 million), milk ($8.49 million), and cattle and calves ($2.12 million).
Top crops in acres are: corn for grain, soybeans, forage, wheat and corn for silage. Acres allotted to these crops include: 71,431 for corn for grain, 57,228 for soybeans, 4,699 for forage, 2,510 for wheat and 1,593 for corn for silage.
Evers listed some challenges county farmers have been facing:
"The increased cost of outputs puts a significant financial burden on farmers. Without subsidies, many farmers cannot afford to keep their operations open. Cash rent, farmland prices and employment cost have increased substantially. In addition to financial stress, farmers face generational pressure to maintain a family operation. These challenges are shouldered by farmers across the nation," she said.
"We are losing farmland to housing developments and other operations as it becomes increasingly more difficult to earn a livable income in the farming industry."
The census does not dispute this, showing a 13% decrease in the number of farms in operation across St. Joseph County. However, land in farms increased since 2017 by 2% to 153,034 acres. A 17% increase bumped average farm size up to 280 acres. However, most farms (41%) are between 10-49 acres.
Out of the 970 producers, approximately one-third (346) are female, and two-thirds (624) are male. The majority (492) are between the ages of 35-64, but another 396 are 65 years old or older. A total of 242 producers are new or beginning farmers, with 82 farmers under the age of 35.
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